Srinagar, Oct 10 : Nineteen travelers, six security forces men, three minors and a doctor were among 635 new novel coronavirus cases reported in Jammu and Kashmir in last 24 hours, taking the overall count to 83064.

Among the fresh cases, official sources told GNS that 235 were from Jammu Division and 400 from Kashmir Valley.

Giving district-wise details, they said, Srinagar reported 173 cases, Budgam 50, Baramulla 36, Pulwama 20, Kupwara 44, Anantnag 22, Bandipora 11, Ganderbal 35,

Kulgam 5, Shopian 4, Jammu 109, Rajouri 29, Udhampur 12, Doda 5, Kathua 15, Poonch 14, Samba 15, Ramban 2, Kishtwar 29 and Reasi 5.

A number of these cases were confirmed at CD and SKIMS Soura diagnostic labouratories.

Male (44) (NA) from dalgate sgr, male (55) from chivakalan, female (75) from saimoh, female (22) from saimoh, male (28) (NA) from gowharpora budgam, male (70) (NA) from zakura sgr, male (62) (NA) from gojwara lalbazar, male (10) (NA) from humhama, female (06) (NA) from humhama, male (48) (NA) from humhama, female (13) (NA) from humhama, female (45) (NA) from humhama, female (45) (NA) from chattabal sgr, female (30) (NA) from chanpora sgr, female (40) (NA) from rawalpora sgr, female (55) (NA) from pampore, female (30) (NA) from khaniyar, male (30) (NA) from buchpora, female (33) (NA) from naidkadal sgr, male (28) (NA) from hyderpora sgr, male (45) (NA) from umarabad HMT, female (25) (NA) from hyderpora sgr, female (60) (NA) from indranagar sgr, female (18) (NA) from gangipora budgam, female (50) (NA) from nowshera sgr, female (45) (NA) from sanatnagar sgr, male (35) (NA) from sanatnagar sgr, male (40) (NA) from bemina sgr, female (20) (NA) from baghat baramulla, male (34) (NA) from wadwan budgam, male (35) (NA) from zahidpora hawal, male (54) (NA) from drass kargil, male (70 Deadbody ) (NA) from gurez, male (77) (NA) from chanpora, female (80) (NA) from lawaypora, female (55) (NA) from kupwara, male (50) (NA) from bucanpora, male (35) (NA) from bucanpora, male (80) (NA) from khanqah, male (90) (NA) from pattan, female (64) (NA) from sgr, female (55) (NA) from safakadal , female (30) (NA) from safakadal, male (NA) from noorbagh, female (57) (NA) pulwama.

The cases confirmed at SKIMS include male (33) from awantipora pulwama, male (27) from awantipora pulwama, Male (33) from 117 Bn CRPF wazir bagh sgr, female (40) from 75 Bn CRPF sgr, male (39) from 25 Bn CRPF humhama budgam, male (31) from 25 Bn CRPF humhama budgam, male (29) from 25 Bn CRPF humhama budgam, male (39) from 54 Bn CRPF nishat sgr, Male (40) from safapora ganderbal, male (32) from dobipora ganderbal, male (24) from nunar ganderbal, male (40) from duderhama ganderbal, female (40) from laar ganderbal, female (43) from kangan ganderbal, Female (46) from logripora bomai baramulla, female (59) from nageen bagh sopore, female (47) from bomai sopore, female (70) from dangerpora sopore, female (40) from noorbagh sopore, female (30) from noorbagh sopore, female (64) from noorbagh sopore, male (65) from noorbagh sopore, male (34) from dangerpora sopore, female (40) from model town sopore, male (38) from ashpeer sopore, female (24) from kralteng sopore, female (25) from badamibagh sopore female (56) from mominabad sopore, female (52) from nowpora kalan sopore, male (58) from upeer ashpeer sopore, female (37) from green town sopore, male (65) from upeer ashpeer sopore, female (24) from shiv sopore, male (54) from bomai sopore, Male (65) from sugan budgam, female (45) from sugan budgam, male (19) from nowbugh chadoora budgam, male (17) from darwan charere shareef budgam, male (44) from kathair chadoora, female (18) from zaloosa budgam, female (13) from zaloosa budgam, male (67) from hyderpora budgam, female (58) from hyderpora budgam, female (27) from baghi mehtab budgam, female (58) from balgarden sgr, male (36) from beerwah budgam, male (19) from dalipora budgam, female (25) from katich budgam, female (24) from katich budgam, male (51) from jk bank khansahib budgam, female (85) from hc ompora budgam, female (65) from hc ompora budgam, female (34) from sunpah budgam, female (36) from daharmunna budgam, Male (50) from rainwari sgr, male (35) mongri udhampur, Male (22) from qamarwari sgr, female (50) from saidkadal sgr, male (NA) from bagi mehtab sgr, male (30) from lalbazar sgr, female (30) AG bazar sgr, male (65) from giraj ganderbal, male (48) from hmt sgr, female (30) from bagi mehtab sgr, female (17) from new colony lalbazar sgr, male (30) from ahmed nagar sgr, female (28) from ahmed nagar sgr, female (40) from gilikadal sgr, male (32) from gilikadal sgr, male (86) from zakura sgr, female (30) from soura sgr, female (23) from pampore, female (65) from hyderpora sgr, male (33) from hyderpora sgr, male (46) from kralpora chadoora, male (63) from buchpora sgr, female (45) from kralpora chadoora, male (58) from zakura sgr, male (70) from ellahibagh sgr, male (30) from skims soura sgr, male (20) from safakadal sgr, female (20) from kralpora chadoora, female (20) from kralpora chadoora, male (65) from ramanagri shopian, male (65) from nowshera sgr, male (41) from alamdar colony sgr, male (55) from waliwar ganderbal, male (48) from chandgam kulgam, male (35) from ladarwan kupwara, male (73) from lalbazar sgr, male (06) from kishtwar, female (77) from gutlibagh ganderbal, male (NA) from sgr.

Moreover, they said, 976 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and were discharged from various hospitals— 509 from Jammu Division and 467 from Kashmir Valley.

>Cinemas, restaurants to open with 50 percent capacity

> Schools, colleges to remain closed till October 31

>No movement passes required for travel only COVID tests mandatory at entry points

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Oct 9: As the government of Jammu and Kashmir has issued fresh guidelines for unlock 5.0, Secretary Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction and Member Secretary State Executive Committee, Simrandeep Singh today gave details about the allowed and not allowed activities.

Addressing a press conference here, the Secretary said the Government has permitted opening of cinema halls, theatres, Multiplexes, swimming pools, bars in restaurants, hotels etc, entertainment parks and similar places, coaching centres from October 15 with fifty percent capacity.  The Government has also raised the number of pilgrims for the holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji per day to 7000,  (earlier it was 5000). The decision on the number of pilgrims local/ outside UT to allow would be decided by the CEO shrine board.

Schools, colleges, higher educational institutions including Anganwari centres shall remain closed till October 31 whereas online/ distance mode studies will continue.

Fifty percent teaching non teaching staff is permitted for online teaching purposes in areas outside containment zones. Students of classes 9th to 12th are permitted to visit school on a voluntary basis for taking guidance in areas outside containment zones. The Skill or Entrepreneurship training will be permitted in National Skill Training Institutes, ITls or other training centers registered with the National Skill Development Mission or JK Skill Mission. National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IE) and their training providers will also be permitted, as per the SOP already issued in this regard by the MOHFW, Govt. of India.

Higher Education Institutions will be permitted only for research scholars (Ph.D.) and PG students in Science and technical streams requiring lab/experimental works from 15th October, 2020. The Head of Higher Education Institutions will satisfy herself/himself that there is a genuine requirement of research scholars (Ph.D.) and PG students in science and technology stream for laboratory/ experimental works.

Coaching centers / institutions shall be permitted to run classes, outside the containment zones only from  October 15 up to 50 percent capacity of the centers, strictly as per the SOP issued by Ministry of Education, GOI. Shops in Malls as well as in the limits of Municipal Corporations will remain open from 9 am to 9 pm.

There will be no restrictions on entry of passengers, returnees or travelers coming to Jammu and Kashmir whether by road, rail or air but COVID-19 Antigen Tests are mandatory. The travelers will undergo 14-day home quarantine if they have a valid contactable phone and Aarogya Setu App in their mobile telephones. The protocol for management of COVID positive persons will be followed.

The SEC, after taking a detailed review of Covid-19 situation in Jammu and Kashmir, has categorized Green, Red, Orange zones.

According to order all districts of Kashmir province and nine districts of Jammu region have been declared as Orange Zones. The Kishtwar district has been designated as Green Zone. However, Lakhanpur Containment Zone in Kathua district and Jawahar Tunnel area on either side will fall in the Red Zone category.

The Government has permitted cinemas, theatres, multiplexes to open from October 15 up to 50 percent of their seating capacity strictly as per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Bars in restaurants/hotels etc, entertainment parks and similar places and swimming pools being used for training of sportspersons will also reopen from October 15 as per the SOPs of the concerned Ministries. The Business to Business exhibitions can start from October 15 as per the Union Ministry of Commerce SOP.

Social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious functions and other gatherings and congregations have already been permitted with a ceiling of 100 persons. The Government ordered that gathering in closed spaces (indoor) will be permitted to a maximum of 50 percent of the hall capacity subject to a ceiling of 200 persons from October 15. In open spaces physical distancing, wearing of masks and use of hand sanitizers are mandatory.

All these activities have been permitted only outside the Containment Zones.

The Government has raised the limit of pilgrims to Mata Vaishno Devi Ji shrine up to 7000 a day from October 15. However, the Government has entrusted the task of fixing the ceiling for pilgrims from outside Jammu and Kashmir to the CEO of the Shrine Board.

Religious processions and large religious gatherings will remain strictly prohibited.

Meanwhile, movement of individuals for all non-essential activities will remain prohibited from 10 pm to 5 am while persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women and children with 10 years of age shall stay at home except for health purposes.

Deputy Commissioner Kathua, OP Bhagat, Joint Director Information Jammu, Namrita Dogra were also present in the press conference.

Agencies
Washington, Oct 9: A new study conducted on Covid-19 patients has confirmed that cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, stroke and cancer can increase a patient’s risk of dying from the virus.
Penn State College of Medicine researchers say their findings may help public health officials improve patient care and develop interventions that can target these high-risk populations.
The researchers found that cardiovascular disease may double a patient’s risk of dying from Covid-19. They also discovered that other pre-existing conditions may increase a Covid-19 patient’s risk of death by one-and-a-half to three times. The results were recently published in PLOS ONE.
“This study suggests that these chronic conditions are not just common in patients with Covid-19, but their presence is a warning sign to a higher risk of death,” said Dr Paddy Ssentongo, a doctoral student in epidemiology at the College of Medicine and research assistant professor in Penn State’s Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics. “There is a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease and hypertension around the world and in particular, the US. With the persistence of Covid-19 in the US, this connection becomes crucially important.”
The research team conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published from December 2019 through early July 2020, to determine which chronic conditions put hospitalised patients at risk of dying from Covid-19. They explored 11 co-existing conditions that pose a risk of severe disease and death among Covid-19 patients, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, asthma, chronic liver disease and HIV/AIDS.
Ssentongo and colleagues analysed data from more than 65,000 patients from 25 studies worldwide. Patients in the selected studies had an average age of 61 years. They found that certain pre-existing health conditions affected survival rates more than others. When compared to hospitalised Covid-19 patients without pre-existing conditions, researchers determined that patients with diabetes and cancer are 1.5 times more likely to die, patients with cardiovascular disease, hypertension and congestive heart failure are twice as likely to die, and patients with chronic kidney disease are three times more likely to die.
“Although the health care community has circulated anecdotal information about the impact of these risk factors in Covid-19 mortality, our systematic review and meta-analysis is the most comprehensive to date that attempts to quantify the risk,” said Vernon Chinchilli, distinguished professor and chair of public health sciences, and senior author of this research. “As the Covid-19 pandemic continues through 2020 and likely into 2021, we expect that other researchers will build on our work.”
The researchers said that prior studies exploring the association of pre-existing chronic conditions and Covid-19 mortality had limitations in the number of countries included, the number of studies included and the number of conditions explored. They also said these studies had unaddressed sources of bias that limited the conclusions that can be drawn from them.
“We took an all-inclusive, global approach for this study by examining 11 chronic conditions and including patients from four continents: Asia, Europe, North America and Africa,” Ssentongo adds. “Research suggests that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, may become seasonal and require annual vaccination. Once an approved and effective vaccine is available, high-risk individuals with these pre-existing conditions should receive vaccination priority to prevent high mortality rates.”
Even though additional research is needed to fully understand health risks and implications, particularly in understanding the effects of race and ethnicity on Covid-19 survival rates, Ssentongo said these findings can help inform global prevention and treatment strategies.

Riyaz Bhat
Srinagar, Oct 9: Following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir, no budgetary allocation was made to Directorate of Health Service Kashmir (DHSK) under National Health Mission (NHM)—raising an eyebrow on the functioning of the department.
The official document reads that under NHM no funds have been received by DHSK from State Health Society Jammu and Kashmir on account of COVID-19.
Official records available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) reads, “Under NHM, no funds have been received from State Health Society Jammu and Kashmir on account of Covid-19 by DHSK. However State Health Society Jammu and Kashmir (Jammu) has released an amount of Rs 20 lakh per district through District Health Society directly.”
It was also mentioned that besides Rs 20 lakh received from State Health Society Jammu and Kashmir (Jammu), an amount of four lakh rupees was also released to the State Surveillance officer under Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP).
This information was revealed by the Public Information Officer (PIO) of DHSK in a reply to the queries of a Right to Information (RTI) application.
Pertinently, the NHM was launched by the Government of India (GoI) in the year 2013 with an aim to make available accessible, affordable and quality universal health care, both preventive and curative, which would be accountable and at the same time responding to the needs of the people.
DHSK said that as per the information submitted by Chief Accounts Officer of the Directorate till August-31, no budgetary allocation on account of COVID-19 under non-plan was received. (KNO)